Regulator for dynamo-electric machines



(No Model:)

T. A. EDISON.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. No. 264,670. Patented Sept. 19,1882.

WITNESSES= 3 4 INVENTOR: 5. @ZKM I {14 u PETERS, Pbow-Lnhographcr.Wilmington, u c.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF MENLO PARK, NEYV JERSEY.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,670, datedSeptember 19, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom tt may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, of Menlo Park, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means for Regulating Electrical Genera-tors, (Case No. 412;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object I have in view is to produce simple and ei'ticient means forautomatically regulating the generative capacity of dynamo or magnetoelectric machines supplying lamps or motors arranged in multiple are,which means will regulate both for changes in the speed of the engine,as well as in the number of translating devices, and will keep thecandle-power of the lamps constant and prevent flicker. This Iaccomplish by providing a mechanism operated by the current generatedand throwing resistance into and out of one of the main conductors. Thismechanism is controlled by an eleotro-magnet located in a multiple-arccircuit beyond the resistance, and affected exactly as are the lampsthemselves by changes in the speed of the engine and in the number oflamps or motors in circuit, and also by the throwing in and out of theresistance. When the lever of this magnet makes its forward con tactacircuitis completed through the resistance-adjusting mechanism andresistance is thrown into the main line or conductor, and when thislever makes its back contact another circuit through theresistance-adjusting mechanism is completed and resistance is cut out ofthe main line. When the candle-power is normal the lever of thecontrolling electromagnet is held in a central position by springfingersor equivalent means. The resistance adjusting mechanism is composed oftwo electro magnets, whose armature levers carry pawls engaging with tworatchet-wheels, the forward movement of which throws the contact-arm inopposite directions. The divided circuit running through theseelectro-magnets may be a multiple-arc circuit, a shunt-circuit, or othercircuit having always, when closed, suflicientenergy to work themechanism. This circuit passes through a circuit-breaker common to bothmagnets, which is preferably a mechanical circuit-breaker operated bysome moving part, and may be a wheel riding on the armature-shaft andcarrying a circuit- "breaking cylinder, or there may be twocircuit-breakers operated in this way-one for each electro'magnet. Thefield-circuit of the generator is also a multiple-arc circuit from themain conductors, and is connected with such main conductors beyond theresistance, so that it will be atfected by such resistance, like thelamps, and will receive more current when resistance is cut out of themain line and less current when resistance is thrown into the main line.

The foregoing will be better understood from the drawing, which is aview, partly diagrammatic, of apparatus embodying the invention.

Ais a dynamo or magneto electric machine, from which run the mainconductors, l 2, in multiple-arc circuits 3 4 from which are arrangedthe lamps or motors B.

R is the resistance, located in either 1 or 2, between the lamps and thegenerator. This resistance is thrown into and out of circuit by the arma, which is moved in one or the other direction by two ratchet-wheels,one of which is shown at Z).

O D are electro-magnets, the armature-levers c d of which carry pawlscf, working the ratchet-wheels.

E is an electro-magnet in a multiple-arc circuit, 5 6, connected with l2 beyond the resistance R. Its armature-lever g is in anothermultiplearc circuit, 7 8, which is divided at the front and backcontacts, h i, of this lever. The divisions of this circuit pass throughthe coils of the two electro-magnets G D and are again-joined. Theleverg is held in a central position by spring-lingers k. The retractingspring Zof the lever g is made adjustable, so that the candle-power ofthe lamps may be adj ust-ed at this point. The circuit 7 8 has amechanical circuit-breaker arranged in its line. This may be a wheel,on, riding upon the armature-shat't a, a detached portion of which isshown for clearness of illustration. The wheel on carries abreaking-cylinder, 0, composed of metal and insulation, upon whichcylinder rest spring-fingers p q. The circuit-wires run to thesespring-fingers, the revolution of the cylinder alternately making andbreakingv the electrical connection between such fingers.

The field-of-force circuit of the machine is a multiple-arc circuit, 910, from 1 2, the connection being made beyond the resistance R, asshown, for the purpose already explained.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a dynamo or magneto 'electricmachine, of translating devices located in multiple-arc circuits fromits main conductors, an adjustable resistance in one of such mainconductors, an electro-magnet located in a multiple-arc circuit, andmechanism operated or controlled by said electromagnet for throwing suchresistance into and out of the main line, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a dynamo or magneto electric machine andtranslating devices in multiple arc-circuits, of an adjustableresistance in the main line, an electromagnet in a m nltiple-arccircuit, circuits closed at the front and back contacts of thearmature-lever of said electro-magnet, and mechanism included in saidcircuits for throwing such resistance into and out of the main line,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a dynamo or magneto electric machine andtranslating devices in multiple-arc circuits, of an adjustableresistance in the main line, two electro-magnets, pawl-and-ratchetmechanism Worked by such electro-magnets, a contact-arm moved thereby inopposite directions, an electro-magnet in multiple arc, the armature ofwhich closes at its front and back contact a circuit through one or theother of such two electro-magnets, and a circuit breaker or breakers incircuit with said two electro-magnets, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a dynamo or magneto electric machine andtranslating devices in multiple arc, of an adjustable resistance in themain line and the field-of-force circuit of the machine connected withthe main conductors beyond such ad j nstable resistance, substantiallyas set forth. 1 6. The combination, with a dynamo or magneto electricmachine and translating devices in multiple arc, of an adjustableresistance in the main line, an electro-magnet located in a multiple-arccircuit beyond the resistance, mechanism operated or controlled by saidelectro-magnet for throwing such resistance into and out of the mainline, and the field-of-force circuit ofthe machine connected with themain conductors beyond such resistance, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 9th day of June, 1882.

THOS. A. EDISON.

Witnesses KIOHD. N. DYER,

EDWARD H. PYATT.

